Ready to start!

[Racing roadkill]

You don’t need to do the plans to the letter, the basic principle is little and often building up the distance gradually, a more stretching ride once a week and a couple of rest days.

True, but it’s easier to get to the goal, if you do follow the plans verbatim, as you don’t lose focus that way. It’s easier to follow a route, if there’s a clearly defined path.

 

[MichaelW2]

To start off, ride by time not distance. Start with rides of 10-15 mins and extend daily but not on big jumps. Find some local routes that are cycle friendly. It is always good to head out into the wind so the return is easier.
Don't push too hard, you just need to get acclimatised to being on a bike safely. Pedal easily in a lowish gear and don't concern yourself with speed. Practice emergency braking with care.
Pay attention to your roadcraft, positioning, observation of vehicles, pedestrians, other cyclists, dogs and potholes.
There is a top 10 of cycle dangers. If you can take care of these, nos 11-101 are very seldom found

 

[vickster]

There is a top 10 of cycle dangers.

Tipper trucks
Skip lorries
Bin lorries
Other lorries (especially big ones)
White vans (these may also be black/grey/silver/blue with or without livery, a range of sizes)
Audis / BMWs / Mercedes (SUVs/ saloons/ hatchbacks)
Old folk in hatchbacks
Boy/girl racers
Dogs in parks and shared paths (and small children off the lead)
Smombies (mainly but not exclusively in cities)...



To the OP< perhaps get a copy of Cyclecraft by John Franklin or similar to learn essential stuff around roadcraft (there's an updated version I think)

 

[Pat "5mph"]

@LibraRider welcome to CC!

Any less than that [5 miles], and getting the bike out of the shed is a bit pointless.

Incorrect imo.
Even a 2 mile journey is worth cycling, remember you have to come back too!
For many beginners a first ride of just a few miles will get one used to how the bike handles, to your level of fitness, to the hardness of the saddle.
The advice given by @I like Skol is spot on.

 

[Racing roadkill]

@LibraRider welcome to CC!


Incorrect imo.
Even a 2 mile journey is worth cycling, remember you have to come back too!
For many beginners a first ride of just a few miles will get one used to how the bike handles, to your level of fitness, to the hardness of the saddle.
The advice given by @I like Skol is spot on.

If you’re talking about generally getting cycling, with no particular specific aim, that’s fine, but as I’ve pointed out, the OP has a 100 miler to aim for, so is on a ( relative ) time budget, so has to get cracking without too much fannying about.

 

[Racing roadkill]

To start off, ride by time not distance.

I’d advise against this, it’s not helpful to just bimble about with only a time in mind, aim for a distance, then try to get the time taken to cover that distance down, it gives a bit focus to what you’re doing, and will actually give a more measurable improvement, as you progress.

Start with rides of 10-15 mins and extend daily but not on big jumps. Find some local routes that are cycle friendly. It is always good to head out into the wind so the return is easier.

Again, I’d advise repeating a fixed mileage ride, not a fixed time ride, but aim to reduce the time taken to complete it. Also wind conditions often change, so there really is no guarantee that a headwind our will be a tailwind home, or any wind home. It might even change to a crosswind, you just don’t know. Don’t worry about wind conditions, unless it really is blowing a hooley.

Don't push too hard.

Don’t push too hard too early, I’d agree with that.

you just need to get acclimatised to being on a bike safely. Pedal easily in a lowish gear and don't concern yourself with speed.

Don’t be overly concerned with speed, but try not to relax so much that you’re not progressing, so keep half an eye on where you’re speed is at.

Practice emergency braking with care.
Pay attention to your roadcraft, positioning, observation of vehicles, pedestrians, other cyclists, dogs and potholes.

Good advice.

There is a top 10 of cycle dangers.

They are risks, not dangers. Risks only become dangers if you fail to identify and mitigate them.

If you can take care of these, nos 11-101 are very seldom found

It’s often a “seldomly found” risk that bites you in the backside, because you failed to recognise it, and mitigate it.
Try and enjoy it as much as possible, if you don’t enjoy it, it makes life a lot harder than it needs to be. If you follow one of the many training plans available out there, which have been formulated by proper professional coaches, and try to take anything suggested by ( well meaning, but often misguided) Internet forum types with a pinch of salt, it should make the event feel like a more enjoyable experience. Remember that the nutrition side of the plans should be taken into account as much as the physical training side as well.

 

[roadrash]

and try to take anything suggested by ( well meaning, but often misguided) Internet forum types with a pinch of salt,

says he who has just posted this on an internet forum,

 

[Reynard]

Oh man, the first time I got back on a bike after a hiatus of about 20 years, I rode 3 miles and I was totally kaput. How on earth I managed to get home, I still don't quite know - things got a bit hazy... Plenty of good advice here already, but I'll add my two pennyworth as well:

We all had to start somewhere. No need to be embarrassed.

Little and often is the key at the beginning. And don't diss utility rides, no matter how short. You have a hybrid, so buy a rack, some panniers plus a decent lock and get into the habit of using the bike for trips to the shops. Sometimes it's quicker to take the bike, especially if you have to waste time looking for a parking space. The beauty of doing stuff by bike is there's invariably something you can lock your bike to near where you have to be.

Don't push yourself too far too fast and allow time for recovery between rides. Plus things like walking helps with general fitness as well.

A good set of maps is always a worthwhile investment e.g. OS Landranger (1:50,000) and OS Explorer (1:25,000). Helps you plan rides, especially once you start going a bit further from home. A good, fun thing to do is hop on a train with the bike, ride a stop or two (or more!) and then cycle home.

Do make sure your saddle is in the right position (height, fore / aft, tilt). Get that wrong, and you'll soon know about it - there are plenty of "how to" guides to this floating around online. If your bum still hurts, then there are options. But right now, any ouch moments are most likely to be your body simply getting used to cycling.

At this time of year, do make sure you're dressed warmly enough. There is nothing more miserable than cycling when you are chilled through. It's far easier to be able to take a layer off than to wish you'd brought an extra one along in the first place.

Everyone falls off at some point. Just try not to do it in front of an audience with a backpack full of tomatoes...

But most of all, enjoy your new bike, and happy cycling.

 

[Racing roadkill]

says he who has just posted this on an internet forum,

And was a professional coach.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Oh man, the first time I got back on a bike after a hiatus of about 20 years, I rode 3 miles and I was totally kaput. How on earth I managed to get home, I still don't quite know - things got a bit hazy... Plenty of good advice here already, but I'll add my two pennyworth as well:

We all had to start somewhere. No need to be embarrassed.

Little and often is the key at the beginning. And don't diss utility rides, no matter how short. You have a hybrid, so buy a rack, some panniers plus a decent lock and get into the habit of using the bike for trips to the shops. Sometimes it's quicker to take the bike, especially if you have to waste time looking for a parking space. The beauty of doing stuff by bike is there's invariably something you can lock your bike to near where you have to be.

Don't push yourself too far too fast and allow time for recovery between rides. Plus things like walking helps with general fitness as well.

A good set of maps is always a worthwhile investment e.g. OS Landranger (1:50,000) and OS Explorer (1:25,000). Helps you plan rides, especially once you start going a bit further from home. A good, fun thing to do is hop on a train with the bike, ride a stop or two (or more!) and then cycle home.

Do make sure your saddle is in the right position (height, fore / aft, tilt). Get that wrong, and you'll soon know about it - there are plenty of "how to" guides to this floating around online. If your bum still hurts, then there are options. But right now, any ouch moments are most likely to be your body simply getting used to cycling.

At this time of year, do make sure you're dressed warmly enough. There is nothing more miserable than cycling when you are chilled through. It's far easier to be able to take a layer off than to wish you'd brought an extra one along in the first place.

Everyone falls off at some point. Just try not to do it in front of an audience with a backpack full of tomatoes...

But most of all, enjoy your new bike, and happy cycling.

Quite right.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Strictly speaking, the ultimate aim is to gauge, and increase your Power, and efficiency. However these are slightly alien / confusing concepts to someone just getting going / restarting after years away from riding, so judging performance and improvements by how your speeds over distance / terrain are improving, gives you something more relatable to work with, which are still usefully comparable to power increases. A lot of the more advanced training plans use Heart rate measurements, and / or ( preferably ) direct power measurements. That’s the nitty gritty of it. It’s really not important to train with these metrics aforethought, to start with though. They will be what is actually improving, but unless you really are interested, readings from HRMs and power meters aren’t anything to get too excited about initially.

 

[boydj]

Strictly speaking, the ultimate aim is to gauge, and increase your Power, and efficiency. However these are slightly alien / confusing concepts to someone just getting going / restarting after years away from riding, so judging performance and improvements by how your speeds over distance / terrain are improving, gives you something more relatable to work with, which are still usefully comparable to power increases. A lot of the more advanced training plans use Heart rate measurements, and / or ( preferably ) direct power measurements. That’s the nitty gritty of it. It’s really not important to train with these metrics aforethought, to start with though. They will be what is actually improving, but unless you really are interested, readings from HRMs and power meters aren’t anything to get too excited about initially.

But first you've got to build up to being able to stay on the bike for increasing lengths of time. Asking someone who is unfit to start chasing times before they've got through the initial toughening-up is setting them up to tire themselves out and struggle with motivation. Once you've achieved bit of fitness and experience to know what you're capable of and where your limits are, then you can start stretching yourself. As @Reynard says above, recovery time is important too.

 

[roadrash]

And was a professional coach.

an ex professional coach who tells someone ,who hasn't been on a bike for 14 years and by their own admission is overweight and unfit , that anything less than 5 miles is a waste of time.
have a look at the numerous posts from members of this forum that have admitted when they took up/returned to cycling couldnt manage anything like 5 miles.
anyhow this isnt helping the op so my last post on the matter.

 

[LibraRider]

I really appreciate everyone’s advice and am taking everything into account.
For me - any distance/time for my initial cycle is a bonus at this point. I’m very apprehensive about getting on a bike and felt like bambi on ice when I had a little cycle the other day.
I can walk 2 miles quite easily haha.
I think for my first ride, I’m going to cycle to what feels comfortable and have fun. Get used to being on two wheels and get used to the fancy gears on this bike. I’ve never used a bike with 2 clickers on each handle to go through the gears. And also - not fall off!
After that - I’ll start training seriously and take it from there.
ive already cut back on calories to create a deficit for weight loss and am drinking plenty of water to hydrate myself. I’ve also upped my protein for muscle mass and to get those much needed gains! If anyone can offer any more advice with regards to nutrition I’d be very greatful!
Finally, I have committed to the velo now. Signed up and registered to take part to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society last night. So, that’s that!
Never done anything close to this before so the challenge itself is daunting! But game on!

ive always been a high achiever!
God bless my hips, thighs and knees!

 

[Reynard]

But first you've got to build up to being able to stay on the bike for increasing lengths of time. Asking someone who is unfit to start chasing times before they've got through the initial toughening-up is setting them up to tire themselves out and struggle with motivation. Once you've achieved bit of fitness and experience to know what you're capable of and where your limits are, then you can start stretching yourself. As @Reynard says above, recovery time is important too.

Yeah...

One of the most important lessons I learnt was to ride well within myself, at a comfortable pace. When I figured that out, cycling was a hell of a lot more fun, and I found that I could go out for longer and ride further without really thinking about it too much.

Although what constitutes a comfortable pace is different for everyone, and is something that comes with time in the saddle. Me, I sort of poddle along at about 9 or 10 mph and I'm a happy camper.